If you want the healthiest food, buy your produce locally. Shop at your local farmers market. This week is National Farmers Market Week. Farmers markets are a place where farmers sell their products and develop a personal relationship with you and the community.
Between 1994, the first year of the count, and 2009 the number of farmers markets tripled and there was a 13 percent increase between 2008 and 2009. As of last year, there were 5,274 markets. A survey USDA conducted in 2005 found that farmers markets take in over one billion dollars annually, and 25 percent of the vendors surveyed said the market is their sole source of income. The USDA provides resources on starting and funding farmers markets and most importantly where to find your local ones. [source 1=”GovGab” 2=”Blog” language=”:”][/source]